DISCLAIMER: Not mine. I promise I'm only borrowing them and will return them to their rightful owners whenever they ask for them back. My imagination took a flight of fancy.....my bank account stayed empty. (Seriously, the cast of CSI belong to CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer and Alliance Atlantis and I'm only borrowing them for some free daydreaming that I wrote down).
SPOILERS: None specifically, although good knowledge of what happens in general is required. There will be the occasional reference to a case seen on the show, with any eps up to the end of Season 3 regarded as fair game. It is from this point that the AU occurs, although back story from the show (such as Nesting Dolls in s5 most obviously) will be incorporated where relevant/appropriate.
SERIES/SEQUEL: This piece is a standalone piece in its own right, but there is a
companion piece of the same name in the L&O: SVU fandom (coming soon).
These two fics will combine to be a crossover......eventually
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
Cold Feet, Cold Case, Warm Hearts
By ncruuk
Part Ten
"I was paged?" queried Sara sceptically as she entered the reception area of the Criminalistics building, her attention locked on the guy behind the desk.
"Yes. Your take out order's arrived." He'd long ago learnt that the intense dark haired woman in a wheelchair was not the sort you should try to joke or flirt with when she appeared in the dead of night.
"Take out? I didn't order take out," protested Sara, switching her attention to the kid with the bag of take out.
"Sara Sidle, Las Vegas Police Criminalistics Department Building: Vegetable Spring Rolls, Egg Fried Rice, Stir Fried Vegetables with Cashew Nuts. Extra order of spring greens and bean sprouts," recited the kid, holding out his bag of food towards Sara.
Bemused, Sara frowned. She certainly hadn't ordered any Chinese take out, but if she had, that would have been exactly what she would have ordered, right down to the extra order of bean sprouts, something that she was for some reason rather partial to.
"But I didn't order…" she began protesting, her mind starting to turn towards thoughts of stalkers and other criminal possibilities, only for someone behind her to say,
"For God's Sake Sara, pay for your damn lunch!"
"Cat?" Sara turned around in surprise at the sudden arrival of her lover.
"Pay for your lunch Sara," tried Catherine kindly, crossing to her confused lover.
"But it's not lunch time…" began Sara, only to stop when she realised what Catherine was doing. Catherine had stepped up behind her chair and reached down, over Sara's shoulder and slipped her hand into the front right pocket of Sara's jeans. Easing long fingers between the folds of denim, she plucked out a neatly folded small pile of dollar bills. Unfolding them, Catherine peeled one off and handed it to the kid, saying,
"Keep the change" as she accepted the bag of food and placed it on the lap of a shocked Sara. Pocketing the remaining bills in her own trouser pocket, Catherine smiled at the kid and receptionist before leaning down and whispering in Sara's ear,
"Your office, now" in the sort of tone of voice that all mothers have, and which even the toughest of grown ups find themselves instinctively yielding to. Wordlessly, Sara obediently turned her chair around and set off towards her office, Catherine a pace or so behind her, leaving a stunned and silent reception.
"Lunch?" asked the delivery kid finally.
"They work nights" explained the reception guy.
"But 3am?"
"The blonde one? She probably ordered the food. Sara has a habit for forgetting to eat."
"Oh. Can't imagine forgetting lunch." The reception guy studied the large kid with barely concealed amusement. Turning to answer the ringing phone, he commented wryly,
"No, I don't imagine you do," before returning his attention to his job.
Catherine closed the door of Sara's office behind her and leant against it, watching Sara's careful movements. First, she went to the trash can and extracted the newspaper she'd thrown out after reading it earlier, before returning to her desk. Carefully clearing a space at the centre of the table, she laid out the newspaper, before placing the bag of food on it. Then, without speaking, she rounded her desk and came to a stop by the drawers. Catherine didn't need to see to know that Sara opened the third drawer and extracted a Tupperware box, which she then put in her lap. Finally, when Sara was once again parked by the newspaper, and the box was open on the desk, did Sara speak.
"You ordered me food?"
"Yes." Catherine stayed leaning against the door, giving Sara space, happy to just watch the economical movements of her lover as she unpacked the take out.
"Why?" Sara didn't divert her attention from the food as she questioned her lover.
"Because you didn't order any for yourself."
"I was going to."
"When?"
"Lunch time."
"Sweetheart? It's 3am….lunch time was hours ago."
"Oh." Unsure what else to say, Sara opened the Tupperware box and selected a fork, which she then used to stab a spring roll. Biting into the hot pastry, she chewed thoughtfully.
"How did you know?" she asked as she swallowed her mouthful and prepared for the next bite.
"I just do," came the simple response.
Again there was a pause as Sara chewed her mouthful and swallowed, before the response came again.
"Oh"
Smiling, Catherine watched as Sara placed the rest of the spring roll in her mouth, her eagerness to eat revealing that, whatever her brain had thought, her stomach was certainly hungry and keen on the idea of lunch, however late it was. Pushing off the door, Catherine crossed the room, and headed for the corner, behind Sara's desk. Opening the little cupboard, she extracted two sodas, an orange one for Sara and a diet coke for herself. Her progress was unnoticed by Sara who was currently focussed solely on demolishing her food. Standing behind Sara again, Catherine cracked open the can, startling Sara slightly, and leaned over her lover, placing the can in front of Sara.
"I've already had one today" muttered Sara honestly, eying the orange soda.
"I know, but it was before midnight. We'll call it yesterday's," reasoned Catherine pragmatically, opening her own can.
"You knew about my stash?" asked Sara surprised.
"Yes"
"How? Did Brass tell you?"
"About coming to see you tonight, yes; I already knew about the soda stash," explained Catherine, coming and leaning on the desk so she could see Sara's face.
"How?" Sara was confused. As far as she could tell, she thought only Greg knew about her stash, and that was because he'd helped her buy the little beer fridge and install it in her office.
"Greg came and talked to me when you asked him for help with the fridge. He was worried."
"What!" Sara was annoyed that Greg had broken her confidence like that. Whilst she didn't mind the fact that Catherine knew about and was very involved in virtually all aspects of her life, she was still fundamentally independent, and the thought that Greg had, as she saw it, gone running to Catherine was not what she had expected.
"Relax sweetie, it wasn't what you're thinking," placated Catherine, grabbing one of Sara's hands and starting a soothing motion across the back of it with her thumb.
"Wasn't it? Greg running to you to check it was ok?" Sara's tone was bitter.
"He came to me to ask why you were wanting a little fridge, not asking permission. The fact you were wanting him to keep it a secret…he thought it was for medicine. He was scared you were sick….he wanted me to tell him it wasn't for drugs. He wasn't going to stop helping you, he just wanted to check you were healthy," explained Catherine kindly, not stopping her gentle caress on Sara's hand, waiting for Sara to comprehend what she was saying.
"You weren't surprised?"
"That you wanted a little stash of soda and white chocolate in your office? No."
"Oh. I thought it was a secret."
"Sweetie, I know that you're not supposed to drink soda or eat too much chocolate, but Lindsey's my daughter, not you. If you want soda, I'm not going to stop you…" Catherine placed her can on the desk and with her now free hand, reached up and cupped Sara's face. Leaning forwards, she whispered,
"I love you," before placing a tender kiss on Sara's lips which Sara eagerly responded to, turning a simple kiss of loving affirmation into a heated duel of passion. As Sara's hand snaked up to hold Catherine's head steady, Catherine let herself be pulled off the desk edge and into Sara's lap, their lips never parting. Eventually, they were reluctantly forced to part, each a little flushed, with Sara smiling somewhat sheepishly.
"I'm sorry"
"For what?" Catherine was a little light headed from the kiss.
"Being stupid"
"Don't be, " came the simple reply as Catherine shuffled around in Sara's lap to find a comfortable sitting position as opposed to a comfortable 'making out' position. When she finally settled, Sara asked, amused,
"Comfy?"
"Incredibly, thank you," replied Catherine, mock primly.
"I'm glad," replied Sara, reaching for the box of rice which she placed in Catherine's lap. Only now having one hand accessible, she needed Catherine to hold the food for her whilst she ate it with her fork, something Catherine immediately recognised as she took the rice and reached for the vegetables. Smiling in thanks, Sara started to attack her food with great gusto, inwardly wondering once again, just what exactly she had done to deserve Catherine as her lover.
"Good game?" asked Catherine conversationally, as she entered the break room towards the end of their shift.
"Yeah," confirmed Nick, smiling broadly as he threw the newspaper aside.
"You need any help with the crossword?" asked Catherine lightly, noticing that was what he'd been looking at.
"You bored?" he counter questioned, amused.
"Maybe" conceded Catherine, running her nail through the condensation on her soda can.
"Closed your case?"
"Both of them" confirmed Catherine, her eyes remaining focused on the can.
"Both? What was the second?" Nick didn't remember any new cases coming in since first assignments.
"Cracking how to make Sara eat," explained Catherine, her fingers now working to remove the ring pull from the can.
"Catherine?" Nick moved from the couch to the table, guessing that Catherine had something she was trying to say to him.
"She, ah, said anything to you?" asked Catherine finally, not making eye contact.
"About the case?" clarified Nick, knowing exactly who 'she' was, and what the 'case' was.
"Yeah"
"No…" began Nick, not sure what Catherine was trying to ask him.
"Would you talk to her?" asked Catherine quietly, embarrassed that she was making the request.
"Catherine…" tried Nick again, really not sure it was his place to get involved.
"She needs to talk to someone…."
"Why not you?" asked Nick reasonably.
"She's trying to protect me…." Looking up, Catherine saw Nick's bemused expression so she elaborated, saying,
"I'm Lindsey's Mom – she's trying to protect me 'cos it's kids and I'm a Mom."
"That's crazy" declared Nick robustly, running his hand over his head, marvelling at Sara's thinking. All the CSIs knew that Sara was now just as important to Lindsey as Catherine was. To everyone except Sara it seemed, they were both 'Moms'.
"True, but logical for Sara" confirmed Catherine wistfully as she considered her stoical love, who was so quick always to shield and protect her.
"Warrick?" asked Nick, thinking of his friend and Catherine's more usual confidante on matters concerning her personal life and family
"She and him are friends, but…." began Catherine, making do with an expressive hand gesture when the words failed her.
"But he's always going to be your friend first, right?" guessed Nick, earning a nod from Catherine. Whilst Warrick and Sara were good friends and colleagues now, there was still something that held them back from being truly open. Catherine was never entirely sure how much of it was to do with, as Nick said, it being because Warrick was her closest friend and confident, and how much of it stemmed from the circumstances in which Warrick and Sara met, with her having to investigate him for Grissom. All that though, was so long ago now, with so much happening in between that Catherine was determined that Nick's interpretation was correct.
"…Greg's gonna need to talk to her," finished Nick, not realising that Catherine had been left behind, drifting in her thoughts about Warrick.
"Yeah" agreed Catherine, correctly interpreting the snippet she had heard. There was no way Greg could be the one that Sara talked to about this, he was too caught up in needing to process his own feelings about the case.
"She's his Grissom" said Nick suddenly, startling Catherine with the mention of the name, forcing him to elaborate quickly.
"I only mean that she's his mentor, the calm presence that is always there for him to turn to, only she won't resort to silly word games."
"Huh?"
"Say silk three times" suggested Nick, breaking out into a slight grin, glad at the opportunity to lighten the tone.
"Silk Silk Silk" obliged Catherine, wracking her brain as to why that question was so familiar.
"What do cows eat?"
"Grass…oh, right, Grissom's test" laughed Catherine, her mood a little lighter now as she placed the memory.
"Not Sara's style?" guessed Nick.
"Not Sara's style," agreed Catherine, knowing instinctually that the big Texan understood what she had been asking him, and that he'd accepted. He'd talk to Sara, at some point, let her talk if she needed to.
"What's not my style?"
"Say silk three times" joked Nick, glad to see that Sara seemed to be ready to leave on time. Quiet shifts, whilst boring for the CSIs, were a godsend for catching up on paperwork.
"Why?" queried Sara suspiciously, coming to a stop next to Catherine.
"Just say it sweetheart" coaxed Catherine, running her fingers down the back of Sara's neck and trying not to frown when she felt the tension in the muscles there. Bemused, but cooperative, especially when Catherine's fingers started working on the tension that was about to start giving her a headache, Sara solemnly said,
"Silk Silk Silk"
"What do cows eat?"
"Grass" At Nick's gleeful smirk, she observed
"I don't get it"
"Don't get what?" asked Greg, coming into the break room, the last few minutes of his shift turning into a countdown until freedom.
"One of Grissom's puzzles," explained Nick.
"And Sara doesn't get it?" asked Greg, amazed.
"Try it on Greg," suggested Catherine helpfully, not ceasing in her one handed neck rub.
"Ok…Say silk three times" repeated Nick, amused at the intent look of concentration on Sara's face as she watched Greg's response.
"Silk Silk Silk" repeated Greg obediently.
"What do cows eat?" asked Nick expectantly.
"Milk….Oh…" Greg realised his mistake and frowned, now puzzled himself as to what went wrong. To his further consternation, Sara broke out into a broad smile, before saying,
"I get it."
"Thought you might," agreed Catherine, withdrawing her hand and earning her a disappointed look from Sara. In response, she directed a pointed look at the wall clock, which was now showing the precise time for end of graveyard shift. Immediately comprehending, Sara stated authoritatively,
"Go home guys, no overtime today."
"Breakfast's on me," offered Warrick, ambling into the break room feeling suddenly generous, something which may have been caused by his finally removing the smell of sewer from his hair. As Nick and Greg leapt to their feet hurrying to get their coats, Sara called out,
"See you for assignments, Catherine's got call."
"Oh?" Nick turned back to Sara, confused at her phrasing. Why did it matter now that Catherine was going to be on call for the start of next shift. It was Warrick who put the pieces together the fastest
"Lindsey's got a school do?"
"Parents evening" Catherine stood up preparing to leave, hoping from Sara's comment that it meant she didn't want to go to breakfast with the guys, something which Catherine was happy with. Right now, a long soak in a warm bath and a decent sleep was the best thing for Sara, and Catherine too.
"Ouch" Warrick winced, remembering his own school parents' evenings.
"She wants us both there," continued Catherine conversationally, following Sara to the door
"You coming for breakfast?" asked Warrick, changing the subject, uncertain how he was supposed to interpret that comment.
"Another time?" asked Sara shyly, glancing at Catherine for confirmation, relieved to see the answering smile of agreement.
"You bet" agreed Warrick easily as they set off down the corridor, heading out into the morning sunlight, another shift over.
To Be Continued